Surgical pad



Jan. 6,-1942. w. M. scHoLL SURGICAL PAD Filed Aug.

Patented Jan. 6, 1942 'UNITEDv STATES PATENT OFFICE ASURGICAL PAD William M. Scholl, Chicago, lll. t Application August 5. isaserial Nb. 223,156 icntim.` (01.128-153) This invention relates to improvements in a surgical pad, and more particularly to a surgical pad o-f the character highly desirable for application to the human foot for relief nof calli, corns andsimilar ailments, although the invention may have other uses and purposes as will be apparentv to cneskilled in the art.

`The present invention is highly suitable for application to the ball of the foot, namely, the

plantar surface of the vfoot beneath the anterior of the metatarsals becoming depressed from the original arched position, the bodys weight is unevenly distributed, -resulting in abnormal pressure and frequently the formation of callosities. In order to eifect a complete remedy, it is not only necessary to remove pressure from a callous, but it is also desirable to correct the weakened metatarsal arch.

I am aware that in the past many and varicus types of pads have been developed for the purpose of relievingpressure on corns, calli and the like. I am also aware that many and various devices have been developed for strengthening or supporting a weakened metatarsal arch. Insofar as I am aware, however, these devices were separate and distinct in nature and accordingly must be used separately upon the foot to accomplish each its own result. f v 4 With the foregoing in mind,v it is an important object of the present invention to provide a combination structure in the nature of a surgical pad designed to function as a support forthe metatarsal arch of a foo-t, and also shaped to receive and-remove pressure from a callous or the like.

Itis another object of this invention to provide.

quad embodyinglprinciples of this invention, but

indicating a-still different form of construction.`

^Figure 1 I have illustrated a portion l0 of the a surgical pad having a recess therein for ther reception of a callous or the like, the pad 'also employing a cushioning' .medium `and being shaped to function as a supportfor the meta-y tarsal archof'the foot when .the pad islappliedv in the proper location to the. plantarsurface of the foot. 1

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a self-adhering metatarsal arch support recessed or provided with an opening for the reception of a callous `or the like, so fas to remove pressure from the callous at the same timethat the device supports the metatarsal arch.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent from lthe .following disclosures,

taken in lconjunction with the yaccompanying drawing, in which: v

Figure 1 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of. a portion vof the human foot, showing the same equipped witha device embodying principles of the presentA invention; i Y

Figure 2 is a planview ofa surgical-pad embodying improvements of thisinvention;

Figure-3 .is a plan view of the atttachment side of a surgical pad embodying principles of this invention, with parts broken awayto better dis,- close parts underneath; n

Figure 4 is an enlarged central sectional view of the structure shown in Figure 3, taken substantially as indicated by the line IV-IV of Figure 3, lookingin the direction indicated by the.

of the structure shown in Figure 5, taken sub-4 stantially as indicated by the lineVI-VI- of Figure5; and p 1 Figure 7 is a central sectional View through a.

`As shown on the drawing:

To illustrate the application of surgical pads embodying principles of .the present invention, in

human foot. to which avpad, generally indicated by numeral l I, itfattached.` The pad -is attached,

to the ball of the foot directly jfbeneath the'anterior or metatarsal arch in position to lend corrective support to this arch. As stated above, the

application of the pad in this preferred location, as indicated in Figure 1, affords a distinctly novel and dual advantage in that it not only provides a support for a weakened metatarsal arch, but also protects and removes pressure from a callous or the like.

The embodiment of the pad seen in Figures 3 and 4 includes an outer covering member I 2' preferably provided with an adhesive undersurface I3 which holdsa cushioning element I4 in position thereon: The outer layer I2 may be of any suitable material, such as annel, the well-known adhesive tape or the equivalent. surface is preferably of the character thatfadheres upon application, such as the commonly known zinc oxide adhesive. The cushioning. ele,-

The adhesive ment I4 may be of any desired number of. layers,`

two being shown by way of example in Figure 3,' and of any suitable material, such as felt; sponge rubber, .anneLhorse hair, lambs wool, or equivalent'material. As illustrated; the layers" of the elementxldmay be graduatedin size to enhance thecurvature of'one side'of'the pad and augment4 itsV arch-'supporting quality.

. From'thedisclosurein'Figure 3, it will' be seen that' thecushioning element` I4 isI preferably of less area than the cover member I2, so as tor leave a. marginY IS completely around'the` cushioning element."v As'seen best in Figure 4', this cushioningelement is preferablyprovided withY a taper- Y Wear Worn bythe user andremainsin position for as longatime'as maybe'desired; It4 will be noted that the construction abovel described provides the complete pad with a very thintapering'outer edge ;so.that the pad will lie'snugly against thei foot and.' not tend to become loosened by contact-'with articles of apparel, or cause any discomfort to the-user.

It will therefore be seen that the pad is providedwith aY suitable-pocket for the reception of a callousortheilike, and at the same time provided with acushioning'element designed to support a weakenedv metatarsal arch. Thus, the single device performs the double" function of removingpressure-'from and" aroundthe callous and of*supporting-theA anterior arch. It will further henoted4f that thepad is preferablyot substantially a heart shape, and therefore v properly coversi the4 area of the anterior arch and gives addedi support to the surrounding weight carryingparts-of the'metatarsal'arch. The adhesive coating of the pad binds the--softstructure of the foot andj prevents' the-lateralspreading of the anterior' ormetatarsalf arch.

Thestructure seen more particularly in Figures 5v andy 6'- exemplied as a pad of generally the same character as.L that abovev described, but whichl` is designedto-accommodate a callous` of i with` a water-repellant surface 2|.

greater height or size. In this instance, an outer cover member I2a having an adhesive undersurface I3a is employed in the manner above described. The cushioning member I4a, however, is centrally apertured, preferably provided with an adhesive undersurface, but otherwise is of the same character and function as the cushioning element I4. The attaching member I'Ia is secured both to the cushioning element and the inner face of the cover I 2a' by the respective adhesive surfaces, and this lattachingA member functions the same as the attaching member I'I, but differs therefrom only in size. Consequently, with this construction, the central aperture or vrecess I9a is somewhat deeper, so that the device will'accommodate a callous of materially greater height, and still. not. only removes pressure from that callous and the region therearound, but also functions to support the anterior or metatarsal arch of the foot and bind the soft parts thereadjacenttogether/just as above described.

Thel structureishown in Figure 7 is identical with that'shown in Figures''and 6, with the exception-that thel outer-member I2a is provided If so desired, thecover members I2 or I2a may be'formed of material of a water-repellant character, and this gureis merelyto indicate' that a moistureimperviousc covering may be used on any pad f embodying principles'of this invention.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided a combination surgical pad performingA a dual function of eliminating pressure from and immediately adjacent a callous or the like, and'atl the same time aflordingfa support to the metatarsalorfanterior arch of the'foot. Thesupport so` afforded is not only an upward cushioning pressurebut also4 a binding of the soft parts of tin-afoot adjacent the aiictedregion to prevent lateral' spreadingofI the anterior arch. The pretion, will remain in position-until removed, re-

gardless of articlesof' apparel, and is economical to manufacture and'use.

I am raware that many changesmay be'made and numerous detailsv of construction may be variedY through a wide range without departing from theprinciples of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent grantedherein otherwise than is necessitated by the scope of the appendedVv claim.

I' claimv as my invention:

A foot corrective appliance'embod'yinga combination two-purpose structure including a surgical padA having asubstantially egg or heartshaped bounding contour tot intimately on the plantar surface of a foot in the region of the metatarsal arch with the broader end of the pad towards: the toes and the narrower end towards the instep, said pad embodying a cushioning member capable of supporting the metatarsal arch, and a bottom memberl on said cushioning member having an adhesive surface for direct adherence' to the-foot ofa-user, said bottomv member lhaving an opening therein for` the reception of anaffliction in the general nature of acallous, and said cushioning member overlying said opening. 

